Inland waters. Widespread throughout the Ethiopian Region of Africa, occurring commonly in all major river basins including the Nile, Chad, Senegal, Volta and Zaire. Present in the brackish waters of Lake Mariout, near Alexandria. Exists in Lakes Albert, Victoria, Rudolph, Nyanza, and Tana. Oubanguhi River at Bangui, French Congo. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. Also introduced Central north america.

Highly commercial; aquaculture and gamefish. Caught maintly with bottom trawls, handlines, seines, gillnets, and traps. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 306 282 t. The countries with the largest catches were Kenya (103 014 t) and Tanzania, United Rep. of (100 000 t).Sold fresh and frozen (marketed mostly fresh); consumed steamed, pan-fried, broiled and baked.